Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Evie
Six Months Postpartum
Air wooshes past my head as I bend down to grab another ball.
“Fuck!” The timbre of Monty's frustrated voice sends a zap of excitement through my body.
“Language!” A teenaged staff yells from the sidelines.
“My bad!” Monty replies as he dodges my attempt to hit him.
The staff grumbles something under his breath, but I don't focus on that. No, I’m on a mission right now.
I need to win this game.
So I stay undefeated, and that’s it. It has nothing to do with the dangling carrot in front of me that is winning this bet.
A bet that makes Monty have to do anything I say for the rest of the day. Anything I tell him to do, he'll have to do. He wants to order a beer later tonight? Oh, I'm sorry but you're gonna have a tequila shot instead. Where is the lime? You don't need one.
Or maybe take it from between my lips.
No, Evie. Bad!
With another ball in hand, I lift my arm up and throw. The red rubber ball sails across the room and nails Harper in her ass.
“Ow! Evie! I thought we had an alliance!” She yells at me in disbelief.
“Sorry babes, I have a bet to win. You were in the way of that,” blowing her a kiss, I set my sights on my next target.
Shiloh becomes bored of the game and asks Harper to bring him to get a snack, which she happily obliges.
Josie, Xavier, Monty and myself are the remaining opponents. Everyone is doing great dodging the balls. We spend the next couple minutes dodging, and bouncing ball attacks on ourselves. Everyone is working hard to get the other out.
Josie yelps as a ball hits her shoulder. Followed by Xavier throwing his hands up in victory. It's short lived as Monty winds up and launches his ball across the way, nailing Xavier right in the stomach.
Laughter bursts out of Monty at the harumph that leaves Xavier's body, and I find myself laughing too. Xavier bounces out of the arena defeated, until Harper pulls his head down and plants a kiss on his lips which he returns greedily.
The arena becomes quiet and Monty and I stand across from each other. I take quick count of the balls around me. Planning my next steps before I take them.
“It's just you and me now Monty boy, do you want to admit your defeat?” I ask, knees bent ready to sprint in any direction.
A sinister grin spreads across Monty's face, his blond curls loose and messy along his forehead giving him that boyish charm that he leans into so often. Butterflies build in my stomach of the anticipation of it all, but especially the way he's looking in my direction.
There isn't just a challenge in his eye, but there’s a hint of desire there too. Enough for me to notice and make me want to squirm.
“Never, but I'll take your forfeit anytime little minx,” he taunts, and in the next second he tosses a ball across the way at me.
I was ready though, and used the ball in my hands to deflect it before returning fire. Monty jumps to the side just missing my shot before we both dive for another ball.
I'm up first, and I shoot before I give it a second thought.
Everything turns into slow motion as I watch Monty grab his ball and look up, right before my ball hits him square in the face.
His head flies back from the impact of the hit before he falls backward landing on his ass.
“Oh shit!” I screech before I race across the area and land on my knees beside him. “Oh Monty. I am so sorry! Fuck. Your nose is bleeding!” Reaching forward and going to touch his face but I freeze just before my fingers connect with his skin.
My head shoots up and I look at Josie who is already on her way with napkins. Thank fuck.
In the next minute Josie joins us, bringing the napkins to his nose and then we help him sit up. The staff has joined us with an ice pack in hand, although I’m not sure what it is we do with that.
Laughter bursts from my lips as I take in everything before me. The ridiculousness of what just transpired, a friendly match of dodgeball that turned so serious.
“Fuck,” I snort, “I'm sorry I shouldn't be laughing.” I choke out. When I make eye contact with everyone else, Xavier has his hand over his mouth, brows furrowed. Josie is tending to Monty’s nose, she has his head tilted back.
Her lips are in a thin line, and guilt begins to swim in my gut.
My eyes widen and whip to Harper's for support because I fucked up.
Harper's fingers are covering her lips, eyes just as wide. I need to apologize, I didn't mean to make him bleed. Sometimes I just get so fucking competitive. I needed to win.
A grunted noise sounds from behind me and if they could, I swear my eyes would pop out of their sockets.
Great, she’s crying. “Oh god, Josie I swear this was an accident. I just got way too into it and–” As my eyes take in Josie, I realize the noise she made wasn’t hiding in a sob, but she’s in fact trying to hold in her own laugh.
Just then the laughing breaks free, throwing her head back at the force of the laughter. Slowly, everyone joins her. Monty’s eyes bounce between all of us, mouth agape.
“I'm bleeding and you're laughing?!” He exclaims, arms thrown open in disbelief. Which just causes Xavier to laugh louder.
The laughter dies down, we get Monty up and over to the side of the arena, so we aren’t blocking other people from enjoying their time. Monty is sitting at the table with a napkin up his nose.
Guilt turns in my stomach, I get up from the table and head towards the concession stand.
I’m looking over what they have to offer on the menu.
Finally when I find what I’m looking for I go to the counter and order.
I only have to wait a minute before my order is ready and I head back to where we were sitting.
Shiloh is off on the trampoline obstacle course again with Xavier. So it’s only the girls with Monty at the table.
I take the seat across from him and slide the plate of cheesy nachos over to him. He raises one eyebrow in question.
I shrug my shoulders, “Consolation prize.” I say matter of factly. The nerves that are turning in my stomach quickly disappear when the deep belly laugh comes from Monty.
When his laughter dies down, he tosses a chip that’s slathered with the cheesy nacho sauce and does a little shimmy. “You won fair and square,” He says with a mouthful of tortilla chips, “I accept the consolation prize.”
“I am sorry though. You know,” I wiggle my finger in the general area of his nose, "for making you bleed.”
“Don’t sweat it, isn’t the first time I’ve bled, and won’t be the last.” He tells me before popping another couple chips in his mouth.
The rest of the afternoon goes by injury free, and before we know it we are heading home. Monty’s parents are at the main rental when we get back, and we all head our separate ways to get ready for dinner.
My body is thrumming with anticipation of what’s going to happen tonight.
Harper’s sitting on my bed as I pull my sheer top over my tank.
She quickly ran over and grabbed her outfit and came back to get ready with me.
My hair is pulled back in a slick high ponytail with a money piece framing my face.
Make up is minimal, but I make sure to throw on my favorite gloss as the finishing piece.
Turning around I take in my best friend, her dark hair is curled with little gem clips.
Her smoky eyes highlight the color of her emerald eyes.
With matching dark washed jeans that hug her curvy form, she compliments it with a loose silk beige tank.
The straps of her tank are so thin she's either wearing a strapless bra or nothing under it.
“Are you wearing a bra with that top?” I ask her, curiosity winning.
Harper looks down, her brow furrowing slightly before she answers. “Yeah, I thought about going braless. Then the thought of that, and dancing seemed like a sweaty uncomfortable disaster with these boobs, you know?” She shrugs her shoulders, and I hum in agreement.
“Makes sense.” I pause and look down at my outfit once more. “Does this look okay?” I pull the sheer fabric of my top, unsure if this is what’s making me feel uneasy.
“You look hot, babe.” Harper reassures me, she tilts her head as she looks at me. “Are you… nervous?” A smirk slowly forms on her face.
“What? Me? Nervous?” I scoff. “I don’t get nervous babes. I’m the furthest from it.” Reaching up I adjust my pony, then grab my dark leather hand bag and head for the door. Harper chuckles behind me but I hear her footsteps behind me.
She’s right, though. I am nervous, but I refuse for anyone to know that. On the inside though, I’ve thrown up and already canceled the plans in exchange for a night curled up in my bed escaping from the world with my newest romance book.
Entering the main area of the house, Shiloh is sitting at the coffee table coloring something. His face is full of concentration at the task. A popular kids show playing on the TV as background noise.
Monty’s mom is in the kitchen, stirring something on the stove. Monty and Xavier are at the table with a beer in their hands. Monty talking animatedly about something by the way his other hand is being thrown around. Scanning the area, I see that Josie isn’t there yet.
Harper walks past and joins the guys at the table, but I need a drink, something to try and cool the nerves that have started to tingle across my skin.
Opening the fridge, I spot a premixed pina colada.
Grabbing it I quickly crack the can and take a long pull.
Once the fridge is closed I head toward the table to join everyone else there.
Footsteps sound from down the hall, before Josie appears in the entry way.
Slowly I take her in, her chocolate hair is curled, head tilted to the side so she can put in her dangle earring.
A deep red sheer lace top covers her arms, matched with a deep V tank dress overtop.
The dress hugs every delicious curve of her body, the length ending at her midthigh.
I feel my body heat as I imagine what it would be like to be dancing up against her.
The restaurant is busy when we arrive. Music and conversation litter the little restaurant, causing a sense of ease and enjoyment.
“Sorry guys. We’re currently full but I can, like, put you guys on the waiting list for when a table frees up?” The hostess, whose name tag reads Betty says, popping her gum.
“Do you know how long the wait is?” Josie asks. Monty steps up behind her, wrapping an arm around her front.
“Uh, probably like thirty minutes?” Betty replies while she looks at the seating chart on her stand. “I’d just need your name and number to put on the list. You’re welcome to go to the bar if you, like, want to have some drinks while you wait.”
“The bar sounds good.” Monty gives Betty his name and number as Betty points us in the direction of the bar.
We all file up at the bar top, Monty opens a tab for us and we each put in our order.
One by one the bartender brings us our drinks.
When my margarita is placed in front me, I lean forward and give the bartender my most alluring smile.
“Can you also set up a stoplight shot for me?” The bartender grimaces at my request but pulls up three glasses.
I watch as he fills one shot glass with clamato juice, the next with tequila, and the third with pickle juice.
With the shots lined up perfectly, I turn my body toward the group.
A sinister smile spreads on my face. Harper’s eyes are wide as she notices the disgusting shot order I have beside me.
“Oh no.” She states, then starts laughing. She nudges Xavier who’s standing beside her, taking a drink of his beer. Lowering his glass his eyes travel from my face to the bar top and his lips pull back in disgusted.
“Oh you’re fucked tonight Monty.” He surmises to his friend.
“As my first act as controller of your night,” I begin, gaining everyone’s attention. Josie is standing in front of Monty, straw to her red painted lips. “You must take this line of shots.”
Monty’s eyes flick to the line of shots, his gaze fixated on the drinks.
“Fuck.” He breathes out, shaking his head before taking a large gulp from his beer and walks toward me. His eyes lasered in on me, anticipation skitters across my skin as the distance disappears between us. He stops with our bodies so close I can feel the heat of him radiating onto me.
With his eyes still on mine, he takes the clamato juice and shoots it back.
There’s a twitch in his eye as he swallows but otherwise he reveals nothing else.
The tequila shot is next, which gets me a bigger reaction.
His eyes slam shut, his throat working the tequila down.
Shaking his head quickly before taking the final shot of pickle juice.
“Gaah!” Monty exclaims, before making a hissing noise out of his mouth. “That was cruel you little minx.”
A quiet gasp leaves my lips as I stare up at him.
He’s still so close to me that I get hints of lemon and bergamot invading my senses.
I take a moment to breathe in his scent before schooling my features and summoning my hormones to relax and not let this very attractive man in front of me see how much he affects me.
Placing my hand on his chest, I rise up on the tips of my toes and bring my mouth to his ear. “Oh Sweets, this is only the beginning.” I purr.
My body jolts when I feel the warmth of his palm caress my hip, a deep chuckle emitting from his chest. Goosebumps form along my skin, the timbre of his laugh making my body feel things it really shouldn’t.
“Oh, game on.” Monty counters, turning toward the bartender he orders shots of tequila for everyone. A round of groans follow the request, as he grabs the salt shaker and passes it over to Xavier.